Monthly Archives: April 2022

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "37.3 million Americansabout 1 in 10have diabetes. About 1 in 5 people with diabetes don't know they have it." While diabetes is manageable, if left untreated, diabetes can become a serious condition that can result in blindness, nerve damage, heart disease, kidney failure and amputations. Keeping diabetes in check is key to living a healthy life. Eat This, Not That! Health talked with experts who explain what the risk factors are for diabetes, how to help get it under control and what symptoms to watch out for. Read onand to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell, Urgent Care Medical Director and Physician, Carbon Health, and Saint Mary's Hospital says, "If you need to use the restroom more than usual for example (waking up in the middle of the night) and it's not associated with increased fluid intake this could be a sign of diabetes. When your body has an elevated amount of glucose the kidneys respond by increasing urination to help remove the excess glucose."

"If you start to experience numbness, sharp pains, tingling in your hands, arms, legs or feet often referred to as neuropathy, this can be a sign of diabetes. This is caused by an increase in blood sugar (glucose) which affects the amount of blood flowing to your organs and muscles affecting nerves throughout the body," Dr. Curry-Winchell explains.

Dr. Curry-Winchell states, "Unfortunately, elevated blood sugar does not mean more energy. The body is not able to use the excess sugar, instead you feel tired and "run down" even after a good night's rest."

Dr. Curry-Winchell shares, "Diabetes can affect many aspects of your daily life. The disease has the potential to cause harm or damage to several organs such as the eyes, brain, heart, kidneys, and skin. When diabetes is not under control, it can be disruptive to your life and impact your ability to perform personal and professional activities."

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According to Dr. Curry-Winchell, "The reason is multifaceted and involves a decrease in physical activity and increased consumption of high calorie foods which leads to weight gain ultimately increasing your risks for developing diabetes. The pandemic has also played a role. For almost two years people were asked to stay home which led to less exercise, isolation and adopting unhealthy coping skills with food or sedentary hobbies."6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Dr. Nisha Jayani, a board-certified endocrinologist with Paloma Health shares, "Being overweight and being physically inactive are two major risk factors for type 2 diabetes. By eating better and getting regular exercise, you can help to prevent type 2 diabetes.You should avoid eating processed meats, white rice, and sugar-sweetened beverages. Instead, load up on nutrient-dense goodness like leafy green veggies, fruits rich in anthocyanins, quality dairy products, nuts, and legumes."

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Dr. Jayani states, "Eating a Mediterranean-style diet, a diet rich in fish, vegetables, fruits, whole grains, beans, nuts and seeds, and olive oil, can be beneficial for the long-term prevention of diabetes." Dr. Jayani adds, "Aerobic exercises like walking, swimming, or riding your bike can help decrease your blood glucose levels. I recommend 30 minutes of moderate aerobic activity a few days a week to help prevent diabetes in the long term."

Excerpt from:
Sure Signs You Have Diabetes, Say Physicians Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Almost four million people in the UK have diabetes, but thousands of cases are still undiagnosed.

Figures from the Diabetes and Wellness Foundation estimates that 1,000,000 adults have type 2 diabetes but do not know it.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than Type 1, and accounts for around 90% of all adult cases in the UK.

The lifelong condition is caused by problems with the production of insulin in the body and is often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.

It causes the level of glucose in the blood to become too high and can lead to a variety of serious health conditions, such as heart disease or a stroke.

Many people have the condition without realising as symptoms do not necessarily make you feel unwell, making the disease difficult to spot.

However, there are a few telltale signs to look for that could be a warning sign of type 2 diabetes.

What are the symptoms?

Two common symptoms of high blood sugar - also known as hyperglycaemia - can be evident in the mouth. These include a dry mouth and a breath that smells fruity, according to the NHS.

Other symptoms that could be a sign of type 2 diabetes include:

Symptoms of hyperglycaemia in people with diabetes tend to develop slowly over a few days or weeks, and in some cases symptoms will not appear until blood sugar levels are very high.

Hyperglycaemia symptoms can also be caused by undiagnosed diabetes, so the NHS advises seeing a GP if this applies to you.

What can cause high blood sugar?

A variety of factors can trigger an increase in blood sugar level in people with diabetes. Typically this can include:

How is it treated?

Most people will need medicine to control their type 2 diabetes. This will help to keep blood sugar levels as normal as possible to prevent further health problems and may need to be taken for the rest of your life.

A healthy diet and keeping active can also help to manage your blood sugar levels.

The NHS recommends eating a wide range of foods, including fruit, vegetables and starchy foods like pasta, and keeping sugar, fat and salt to a minimum. Around 2.5 hours of physical activity is also advised per week.

There is evidence that eating a low-calorie diet (800 to 1,200 calories a day) on a short-term basis (around 12 weeks) can help with symptoms of type 2 diabetes, and some people have found that their symptoms go into remission.

However, a low-calorie diet is not safe or suitable for everyone with type 2 diabetes, such as those who need to take insulin, so it is important to seek medical advice before going on this type of diet.

Originally posted here:
2 symptoms of high blood sugar in the mouth that may indicate diabetes - NationalWorld

In 1986, Jill Norris had a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology in hand and pondered what to do next. She decided to pursue a doctorate in epidemiology and applied to a few schools. An invitation from a renowned figure in the field not only cemented her decision but also set her on a lifelong professional path to an elite position among her peers and now, international recognition.

Norris hadnt anticipated the door that opened. She was still mulling her doctoral choices when the late Dr. Ronald LaPorte, an epidemiologist at the University of Pittsburgh, urged Norris to join his program. LaPortes studies focused on type 1 diabetes, the autoimmune disease that destroys the bodys ability to produce the glucose-regulating hormone insulin. LaPorte needed investigative allies and told Norris he had a position for her, should she choose to accept.

Norris didnt know much about type 1 diabetes, but took LaPorte up on his offer anyway.

I liked him so much and loved his group, she recalls. I walked into a wonderful situation where I learned the story behind type 1 diabetes and so many things about it that I hadnt even been aware of.

Norris embarked initially on a project to study the protective effects of breastfeeding against type 1 diabetes. It set the stage for a career dedicated to probing the mysteries of autoimmune diseases not only diabetes, but also rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, multiple sclerosis and lupus. Her contributions include extensive funded research, hundreds of published peer-reviewed papers, wide-ranging committee work, and a long commitment to mentoring students. She has chaired the Department of Epidemiology in the Colorado School of Public Health since 2011.

The early days in Pittsburgh set her course. From the very beginning, my work was on nutrition and type 1 diabetes. Amazingly, Ive never strayed too far from that, Norris said.

A little more than three decades after she received her doctorate in Epidemiology from Pitt, Norriss unflagging work on type 1 and type 2 diabetes has earned a notable honor. She is the 2022 recipient of the American Diabetes Associations Kelly West Award for Outstanding Achievement in Epidemiology, which recognizes significant contributions to the field of diabetes epidemiology.

ADA Award Winner Reusch, MD, Makes the Most of CU Anschutz Collaborations

Jane E.B. Reusch, MD, professor of medicine, bioengineering and biochemistry in the Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and associate director of the Ludeman Family Center for Womens Health Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, is the recipient of the2022 Albert Renold Award from the American Diabetes Association (ADA). She is based in the division of endocrinology, metabolism and diabetes at CU Anschutz and the endocrine section at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center.

This award is presented to an individual whose career is distinguished by outstanding achievements in the training and mentorship of diabetes research scientists and in the development of communities of scientists to enhance diabetes research.

Reusch started her career in as a physician scientist doing cell biology research on the nuclear aspects of insulin resistance and how that affects diabetes and its complications. Propelled by a desire to help patients, including her father, who suffered from the disease, Reusch partnered with Judy Regensteiner, PhD, director of the Ludeman Family Center for Womens Health Research, to understand how diabetes leads to impairments in functional exercise capacity.

Functional exercise capacity is measured by exercising as hard as you can. People with type 1 or type 2 diabetes already have about a 20% defect in their maximal exercise capacity. Maximal exercise capacity is the most potent predictor of life expectancy, so it is serious that it is impaired in people with otherwise uncomplicated diabetes. Reusch and Regenstiener identified that insulin resistance, blood-flow abnormalities, cardiac dysfunction and skeletal muscle dysfunction collude to give diabetes patients lower functional exercise capacity.

She also collaborates with researchers at the Childrens Hospital such as Kristen Nadeau, MD, MS, who won the Outstanding Scientific Achievement Award from the ADA in 2021, the Center for Bioengineering and the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes.

Reusch said CU Anschutz is the place where you should be doing diabetes research. We have a great collaborative environment, brilliant scientists and a growing infrastructure to support innovation.

Reusch also mentors students, post-doctoral fellows, and junior, mid-level and senior faculty. One of the first graduate students she worked with was a trainee of Jill Norris, PhD, MPH, at the Colorado School of Public Health.

She is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and to the strengthening the clinical-translational workforce. At the core of her world-class NIH, VA and ADA-funded translational diabetes research program is the mission to recruit, train and retain new translational scientists to the diabetes workforce, particularly focused on womens health and sex as a biological variable.

I love the opportunity to be a doctor, to be an educator and to ask questions and contribute to discovery in research, Reusch said. I have the world's best job, so of course I want other people to have it too.

- Kiley Kudrna

Norris will discuss her work, which includes not only her pioneering studies into the genetic and environmental links with type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune diseases, but also mentoring and volunteering, at the ADAs 82nd Scientific Sessions in New Orleans June 3-7.

That effort spans decades of contributions to long-term studies of diabetes. These include, among many others, nearly 30 years of service with the NIH-funded Diabetes AutoImmunity Study in the Young (DAISY), working with her colleague Dr. Marian Rewers, executive director of the Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. The aim: explore the ways that a persons genetics and environment may combine to drive type 1 diabetes.

In addition, Norris is a longtime investigator on The Environmental Determinants of Diabetes in the Young (TEDDY) Study (also NIH-funded, with the Barbara Davis Center one of six study sites). She has co-chaired its Diet Committee since 2002.

The TEDDY initiative is responsible for screening well over 400,000 kids with type 1 diabetes in the United States and Europe. It identifies newborns at genetic risk for the disease and follows them for 15 years in the hopes of deciphering the causes of type 1 diabetes and how they might be addressed with strategies like modifying diet.

For example, some studies suggest that low levels of vitamin D and omega 3 fatty acids may increase the risk of type 1 diabetes. More work is needed, but the studies open the possibility of targeted dietary interventions aimed at those who would most benefit, Norris said.

In a summary of her research, Norris underscored her strong belief that genetics predisposes individuals to type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune disorders, such as celiac disease, but also that they dont predetermine outcomes.

It has become clear that without considering both the genetic and environmental risk factors of diseases, we may never come to a complete understanding of their etiology and potentially, their public health impact, she wrote.

Asked to elaborate on the point, she said, I like to think that we can work within a persons genetic predisposition to decrease the burden of the presence of the disease.

Norris cautioned, however, that the genetic-environmental connection is complicated and much effort remains to untangle it. For example, some studies indicate that the potentially protective power of foods rich in vitamin D, omega 3 fatty acids and other biomarkers may hinge not only on eating more of them but also on an individuals genetic ability to turn them into something that has protective influence. What turns one person on and another not, in effect, is a big question to be answered.

The TEDDY study therefore points to the importance of finding the kids whose genetic makeup make them the best candidates for interventions, informing them of the reasons to make changes in their diets and lifestyles, and making sure those changes fit in the fabric of their everyday lives, Norris said.

My goal would be to create diets that are attainable and sustainable, she said. We dont want diets where people totally eliminate one thing. You want to give people options. Its not all about one good thing or one bad thing.

Going forward, Norris said she also anticipates further research aimed at preventing autoimmune diseases from occurring. That requires not only broad screening to identify at-risk individuals but also having safe interventions at the ready for those who need them, she said.

In Norriss view, the Kelly West honor puts her name among the many epidemiologists who helped to spur her career and whose friendship and collegiality she values.

When I look at the long list of winners before me, many of them were my mentors and many others are current colleagues and friends, she said. To be part of that fabulous community means so much to me.

Her connection with LaPorte illustrates the depths of her roots in that community. LaPorte, Norriss original entre to epidemiology and Type 1 diabetes research, was one of the original Kelly West Award recipients in 1988. He also was instrumental in driving development of type 1 diabetes registries around the world, including one established in Pittsburghs Allegheny County.

His work, as well as that of Jan Dorman, LaPortes wife and Norriss co-mentor while at Pittsburgh, dovetailed nicely with Norriss budding career when she moved to Colorado in 1990 to take a position as assistant professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics Section of Epidemiology and Community Health in the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She worked with Dr. Richard Hamman, a fellow epidemiologist who was to become the founding Dean of the Colorado School of Public Health in 2008. In 1984, Hamman had also launched a type 1 diabetes registry to identify and collect data on all children in Colorado diagnosed with the disease.

Hamman and his colleagues published the influential San Luis Valley Diabetes Study of residents in two deeply rooted southern Colorado communities. The study concluded that type 1 diabetes was a major chronic disease problem for persons of Hispanic ethnicity in the San Luis Valley.

Norris worked with Hamman and Dr. Julie Marshall, now Professor Emeritus in the Department of Epidemiology at ColoradoSPH, studying the genetic and environmental epidemiology of type 2 diabetes among families in the San Luis Valley. In her work, she relied on the population from Hammans San Luis Valley Diabetes Study and studied their family members in a community-run research clinic Hamman established.

I have a soft spot for the San Luis Valley, said Norris, recalling how her studies deepened her appreciation for its people, whose descendants have spread far beyond its geographical bounds. I learned there how to conduct research, not just outside our front door.

The experience in the San Luis Valley also placed Norris as one of many foundational pillars in the Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center, launched in 1998 by Hamman and Marshall and now directed by Dr. Jenn Leiferman, professor and Chair in ColoradoSPHs Department of Community & Behavioral Health which continues to maintain strong ties in southern Colorado.

Having gained so much knowledge from others, Norris is intent on extending the same commitment to fellow contributors to epidemiology.

Mentoring is incredibly important to me, she said. Mentoring can take many forms. It can be students but it can also be your fellow faculty. A number of students that I have worked with in the past have grown and while they may not be working on diabetes, they have developed other exciting and important areas of research. I cant imagine being at an institution that didnt emphasize teaching.

Guest contributor: Tyler Smith for the Colorado School of Public Health

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American Diabetes Association Honors Two Outstanding CU Anschutz Researchers - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

One year ago today, WHO, together with the Government of Canada, launched the Global Diabetes Compact an ambitious new initiative to galvanize efforts around the world to both reduce the risk of diabetes, and ensure that all people diagnosed with diabetes have access to equitable, comprehensive, affordable and quality treatment and care.

Those responsible for the conception of the Compact were under no illusions about the immensity of the challenge.

The fact that 100 years after the discovery of insulin, a life-saver for many people with diabetes, the treatment was still out of reach for millions of people who needed it, was a clear signal that business as usual was no longeran option, said Dr Bente Mikkelsen, Director of the Department of Noncommunicable Diseases at the World Health Organization. The enthusiasm that we saw among political leaders at the highest levels for the Global Diabetes Compact showedus that the motivation for a radical scale-up of efforts was widely supported.

A World Health Assembly Resolution: an important milestone

The critical nature of scaling-up efforts to prevent and treat diabetes was made clear by the adoption by WHO Member States of a historic resolution on diabetes at the World Health Assembly in May. The Resolution recommends the integration of prevention and treatment of diabetes into primary health services, the development of pathways for a substantial increasein access to insulin, the promotion of convergence and harmonization of regulatory requirements for diabetes medicines and technologies and improved diabetes monitoring and surveillance. Furthermore, it asks WHO to advise Member States on how to ensurethe uninterrupted treatment of people living with diabetes in humanitarian emergencies. This important milestone provides a global mandate for diabetes efforts for the next decade.

Meanwhile work was underway to ensure that WHO had access to leading experts to provide technical advice on matters relating to WHOs work on diabetes. The result was the establishment of a Technical Advisory Group on Diabetes in August. The Group,chaired by Professor Amanda Adler, Professor of Diabetic Medicine and Health Policy at Oxford University, met for the first time in September 2021.

The importance of engaging a broader community beyond technical experts was very clear when the Compact was established, and in November, the first Global Diabetes Compact Forum was held. With more than 50 participants from nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, philanthropicfoundations and business associations, the Forum provided an opportunity for the exchange of information on ongoing and future activities and the sharing of ideas on future endeavours that could be organized collectively for greater impact.

Learning from people with lived experience

Hearing from and learning from people living with diabetes will help ensure that work undertaken through the Compact is focused on areas where action is most needed. Focus groups hosted by WHO brought together more than 50 individuals with lived experienceearly in the year for an exchange of knowledge and information to help direct WHOs diabetes efforts. The event featured the expertise and passion of people with lived experience from over 20 countries, from Africa to the Americas to Asia, including Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, occupied Palestinian territory, South Africa, Sweden, Tunisia, and the United States of America.During the event, facilitated by people with lived experience from Australia, Bosnia and Herzogovina, Costa Rica, India, Mexico and the UnitedStates of America. Insights were shared on access to and the affordability of diabetes care, medicine and technologies; diabetes risk reduction and education; mental health and the stigma associated with diabetes; and research and innovation.

New report recommends key actions for better accessibility of insulin

Anew reportpublished by WHO in the lead-up to World Diabetes Day in November highlighted the alarming state of global access to insulin and diabetes care, findingthat high prices, low availability of human insulin, few producers dominating the insulin market and weak health systems are the main barriers to universal access.

Recommendations made in the report for addressing these issues included boosting human insulin production, introducing pooled procurement mechanisms to bring down prices and improving transparency in price-setting. As part of efforts to address theseand other issues relating to the insulin market, WHO has embarked on dialogues with the private sector on medicines and technologies for diabetes care, the last of which was held in September 2021. While these early discussions have served as a basis for setting out goals and potential activitiesto reach them, WHO will continue to encourage and ask the private sector for commitments and contributions with the aim of dramatically improving access to insulin and health technologies in low- and middle-income countries, as well as in humanitarianemergencies.

Making a difference at country level

The establishment of the Compact and its associated coordination activities have given added impetus to diabetes efforts within ministries of health around the world.

WHO regional and country office staff have used the opportunity to support countries in their efforts, providing technical guidance and support for advocacy efforts.

World Diabetes Day in November, when there is focused attention from media and the public health community on the topic, provided an opportunity to highlight new and ongoing initiatives.

In a special ceremony at UN City in Copenhagen the day after World Diabetes Day, the World Diabetes Foundation signed an agreement granting WHO more than US$ 900 000 for a 3-year project in support of efforts for the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases in primary care in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The main beneficiaries of this project will be people with diabetesand their families and carers, particularly those most in need.

Also in November, at a national conference in Ljubljana, Slovenia presented its National Programme of Diabetes Control and Management 20202030. Detailed action plans will be developed every two years, with reporting required at the end of each period.

In Africa, WHO has been working hard to integrate diabetes into primary care, using the WHO Package of Essential Noncommunicable disease interventions (PEN) toolkit. Seven countries Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe are implementing the HEARTS package. In Mali, the training of health-care workers on managing diabetes is underway. There are ongoing projects with partners such as the International Diabetes Federation, Africa Region and Sant Diabte.

In South-East Asia, WHOs technical guidance on diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes, HEARTS-D, was adapted into an online training module for use by programme managers responsible for planning diabetes services and facility managers andprimarycare staffinvolved in clinical care.

Also in South-East Asia, donations of insulin were provided to Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste during 2021. While donations are not a sustainable solution to meeting population needs for diabetes medicines, they have enabled countriesto meet at least some of their needs during a year when supply continued to be disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Looking ahead

Reflecting on the year since the launch of the Compact and looking ahead, Dr Bente Mikkelsen said: In the past twelve months we have established the foundations that will enable us to collectively work towards the goals of the Global Diabetes Compact.But this is just the start. We look forward to building on the achievements of this first year with our partners around the world to make a real difference to the lives of people with diabetes. They are counting on us.

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The Global Diabetes Compact: a promising first year - World Health Organization

Dr. Lucy Mastrandrea (left) and Dr. Kathleen Bethin (right).Photo credit: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

Program funded by a $1.4 million grant from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust will focus on expanding access to virtual diabetes care.

NEW YORK, NY APRIL 19, 2022 The majority of children living with Type 1 diabetes in the United States are not meeting their hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) goals, a measure of how much sugar is in the blood, and a leading indicator of both short- and long-term disease state complications. Current research indicates that this trend is particularly prevalent in underserved communities lacking access to appropriate health resources.

Now, pediatric endocrinologists at UBMD Pediatrics and the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo have launched a collaboration to provide remote care management and physiological monitoring for children living with Type 1 diabetes. The team will be evaluating the financial viability of providing these services as well as their impact on diabetes-related outcomes.

A $1.43 million grant awarded to UBMD Pediatrics from The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust is making this program possible.

Despite recognition of the benefits of remote care programs that deliver support in-between physician visits, most primary care and specialty providers lack the financial resources to deploy them effectively. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated outcome gaps among underserved communities primarily due to limited access to remote care services and community-based resources.

By working with Cecelia Health, a virtual-first health care provider, UBMD Pediatrics will be supplementing the in-person patient care it provides with care from an experienced remote diabetes and chronic care management team. Cecelia Health provides patients with a spectrum of support in managing their diabetes to ease the daily burden, help improve health outcomes, and free up care resources for providers.

A key goal of the program is to explore how improving access to remote support and the internet to better manage chronic conditions will improve outcomes. In particular, the program will examine whether access to fully supported cellular-enabled tablets and remote support enables patients to take full advantage of their existing diabetes technologies, such as continuous glucose monitors and insulin pumps. In return, this should improve HbA1c levels and reduce hospital admissions for diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition which develops when the body doesn't have enough insulin to allow blood sugar into cells for use as energy.

Using telehealth to improve care of youth with Type 1 diabetes is at the forefront of clinical care, said Lucy Mastrandrea, MD, PhD, Associate Professor and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Endocrinology/Diabetes at the Jacobs School and UBMD Pediatrics. We expect to show that utilizing certified diabetes care and education specialists to deliver virtual support and education to our patients and families is financially sustainable. We are also taking this further by studying the clinical outcomes of patients with limited internet access who are provided tablets with cellular service and full technical support.

Our Division of Pediatric Endocrinology/Diabetes cares for about 1,000 patients with diabetes, said Kathleen Bethin, MD, PhD, principal investigator of the study and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the Jacobs School. We have many years of experience with both basic and clinical research to improve the lives of our patients.

Cecelia Health has worked with several university and hospital diabetes specialty clinics during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and thanks to the support of the Helmsley Charitable Trust, we were fortunate to leverage the expertise of Cecelia Health and its team of certified diabetes care and education specialists to provide telehealth support services to our diabetes patients who were unable to be seen in-person on a regular interval, said Bethin, also a member of UBMD Pediatrics Division of Endocrinology/Diabetes.

Additionally, the researchers are interested to see how video care support along with improved ability to share data from pumps and blood glucose devices compares to phone-only support.

We are thrilled to be collaborating with UBMD Pediatrics on this important initiative, said Arnold Saperstein, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer at Cecelia Health. It affords us the opportunity to highlight both the clinical and financial value of our remote care model for chronic conditions in partnership with established clinical practices.

The grant will support this collaboration for three years.

Dedication to discovery, patient care, and advancing science is what defines renowned academic medical centers like ours, said Steven E. Lipshultz, MD, A. Conger Goodyear Professor and Chair of Pediatrics in the Jacobs School. UBMD Pediatrics is proud to join forces with the Helmsley Charitable Trust and Cecelia Health to transform the lives of the patients we serve by translating innovation in the lab to improve outcomes at the bedside and in the community, elevating care in an equitable and inclusive way for all patients.

The Helmsley Charitable Trust, the funder of this project, is one of the largest private foundation funders of Type 1 diabetes in the nation.

Telehealth has the unparalleled ability to meet patients where they are, but for these services to be used, they must be reimbursed properly said Sean Sullivan, PhD, Program Officer for the Helmsley Charitable Trusts Type 1 Diabetes Program. This innovative work aligns with our goal at Helmsley to better understand the impact and viability of programs that can expand access to quality care for all people with Type 1 diabetes, regardless of their zip code.

To learn more about how to support children with Type 1 diabetes through medical discovery and advances at the Jacobs School visit http://www.buffalo.edu/campaign.html or contact Kathy M. Swenson, Senior Director of Advancement at kswenson@buffalo.edu or by calling 716.829.5052.

About Cecelia Health

Cecelia Health is a virtual-first provider organization delivering integrated care to patients across all chronic disease risk profiles. We address critical care gaps, reduce variability in care, and improve medication and device adherence. Our virtual specialty care solution delivers the optimal mix of clinical interventions with digital touchpoints. We offer a comprehensive suite of synchronous and asynchronous disease management capabilities including remote clinical support, device training, remote patient monitoring, and telemedicine delivered via a national network of specialty providers. We complement our virtual care capabilities with robust data and analytics that deliver meaningful insights to our partners.

Cecelia Health Media Contact: Misty Greficz.

About UBMD Pediatrics

UBMD Pediatricsis one of 18 practice plans within UBMD Physicians Group, the single largest medical group in Western New York.We provide premier primary and specialty health care to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults throughout Western New York and beyond. Our doctors make up the academic teaching faculty within the Department of Pediatrics at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at the University at Buffalo and are also the physicians at Oishei Childrens Hospital.For more information, please visit UBMDPediatrics.com.

About the Helmsley Charitable Trust

The Leona M. and Harry B. Helmsley Charitable Trust aspires to improve lives by supporting exceptional efforts in the U.S. and around the world in health and select place-based initiatives. Since beginning active grantmaking in 2008, Helmsley has committed more than $3 billion for a wide range of charitable purposes. The Helmsley Type 1 Diabetes Program is one of the largest private foundation funders of T1D in the nation focused on understanding the disease, developing better treatments, and improving care and access in the U.S and low- and middle- income countries. For more information on Helmsley and its programs, visit helmsleytrust.org.

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Improving outcomes for children and adolescents living with Type 1 diabetes is the goal of a collaboration between UBMD Pediatrics and Cecelia Health...

TUALATIN, Ore. (PRWEB) April 18, 2022

Genteel LLC, one of the largest Bioscience & Health Technology companies in the Pacific Northwest, is improving health outcomes for diabetics far beyond the US. The vacuum lancing device manufacturer announces another international distribution partnership, this time in the United Arab Emirates with DiapointME.

Genteel manufactures the only vacuum lancing device FDA-cleared for use anywhere on the body. With blood sample readings from palms matching those of sensitive fingertips, Genteel significantly reduces pain associated with blood glucose monitoring.

Genteel LLC is proud to announce that their technology is now available to a population in great need of improved diabetes management. According to statistics from the International Diabetes Federation, the UAE holds one of the highest prevalence of diabetes globally. Nearly half of the adult population with type 2 diabetes mellitus are still undiagnosed and untreated.

DiapointME, headquartered in Dubai, is a space for diabetes advocacy, education, and products. As an authorized distributor of the Genteel lancing device, they have joined the Genteel mission of providing relief from discomfort and fear through comfortable glucose checks. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Mark Berkovich, commented on the deal saying, I am absolutely thrilled to bring the Genteel solution to more people. Through the pursuit of less pain, we are improving patient adherence, and ultimately health outcomes for those who need it most

About Genteel

Genteel LLC is the leader in premium painless vacuum blood draw lancing devices. With over 27 worldwide patents granted in its technology, their unique and gentle device has helped tens of thousands of people living with diabetes give their fingers a break. Learn more about Genteel here.

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Vacuum Lancing Technology Enters the UAE, Making Virtually Painless Glucose Checks a Possibility for Emiratis Living With Diabetes - PR Web

According to the Mayo Clinic, type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that results in too much sugar circulating in the bloodstream. Eventually, high blood sugar levels can lead to disorders of the circulatory, nervous, and immune systems. This leads to your pancreas not producing enough insulina hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cellsand cells also responding poorly to insulin, taking in less sugar. Although there is no cure, there are methods to manage your blood sugar, such as weight loss, a healthy diet, and exercising.

If you feel you are at a likelihood of getting the disease, there are also ways to lower your risk of type two diabetes, including eating certain foods and drinks in order to do so. According to a study done by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, the best drink to lower type 2 diabetes for both men and women is coffee.

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The research involved a follow-up observation from 74,749 women in the Nurses' Health Study from 1984 through 2008, and 39,059 men in the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study from 1986 through 2008. The participants were free of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer at baseline. Over the time of the study to the follow-up, it was concluded that the consumption of caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee was associated with a lower risk of type 2 diabetes.

The study showed that women's risk of type 2 diabetes was reduced by 8%, while men lowered their risk by 4% when drinking regular coffee, or 7% if they consumed decaffeinated.

The research also suggested that coffee makes for a good replacement for sugar-sweetened beverages, such as sodas, as long as the coffee doesn't have too much sweetener or creamer. Sodas have added sugars, which increase your risk of type 2 diabetes and can lead to liver disease, heart disease, tooth decay, increased risk of pancreatic cancer, and overall making for a poor nutritional choice. Especially if consumed often.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

It's important to note that coffee still has potential risks, mostly due to its high caffeine content (if not decaf), so it's good to drink in moderation. The Mayo Clinic states that it can temporarily raise blood pressure, and women who are pregnant, trying to become pregnant or breastfeeding need to be cautious about caffeine. Here's How Much Coffee You Can Have in a Day, According to the Mayo Clinic.

Read more here:
The #1 Best Drink to Lower Type 2 Diabetes Risk, Says Science Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That

Diabetes can be a risk factor for other health conditions like heart and kidney disease. Effective diabetes management is one way to lower your personal risk and help maintain overall good health.

Heart valve disease, which can affect blood flow to the heart, can occur more commonly in people with diabetes. The condition can also progress faster and be more severe in those who have diabetes.

The exact reason for the connection is still being studied, but researchers are exploring some common mechanisms between diabetes and damage to heart valves.

If youre living with diabetes, collaborating with your doctor can be a great way to support your heart health and lower your risk of other serious health conditions.

People with diabetes are twice as likely to have heart disease as those without diabetes. Theyre also, on average, more likely to develop heart disease at a younger age.

Heart disease is a group of conditions that affect heart health. Coronary artery disease is one of the most common conditions in people with or without diabetes. Its when plaque builds up in the arteries that supply blood to the heart. The pathways become narrow, leading to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

People with diabetes often have risk factors for heart disease, including:

Diabetes can also affect your heart valve health, specifically by contributing to heart valve disease.

The valves of the heart regulate blood flow to and from the heart and also inside it.

When any of these valves are damaged, its a form of heart valve disease. The valves may not fully open or close during a heartbeat, or may leak. A valve opening may be narrow or stiff, so it cant fully open. This is a condition called stenosis.

Heart valve disease is most common in the aortic valve, although it may occur in any of the hearts valves. High blood pressure and atherosclerosis are two risk factors for heart valve disease.

Researchers are still actively looking at a possible link between diabetes and heart valve disease. Theres a growing body of evidence that the two conditions are connected.

Specifically, diabetes may predict aortic valve stenosis, and this stenosis may be more severe in people with diabetes.

A 2019 paper cited research that found the prevalence of diabetes was higher among those with aortic stenosis than in the general population. The same paper also noted research that diabetes creates and worsens pro-inflammatory factors that also affect the aortic valve.

A study published in 2022 found diabetes was associated with rapid progression of aortic stenosis. The research was based on an analysis of 276 people with aortic stenosis between 2016 and 2021.

There may also be a connection between diabetes and degeneration of the aortic heart valve. A 2018 study found that theres an increase in a certain protein when aortic valves degenerate. In late-stage valve deterioration, diabetes increases the amount of this protein.

Living with diabetes and heart disease can also raise the risk of other conditions, such as chronic kidney disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, 1 in 3 adults with diabetes has kidney disease.

Some of the same causes that lead to an increased risk for heart valve disease also raise the risk of kidney disease.

Specifically, high blood sugar can damage blood vessels not just in the heart but in the kidneys. High blood pressure can put extra strain on these weakened blood vessels from the additional force as blood moves through.

People with diabetes may also carry a greater risk of stroke because of the risk factors for heart disease.

If you live with diabetes, there are many ways you can manage your risk for heart disease. Working with your doctor, you can develop a plan to support your overall health and manage your diabetes.

You may wish to talk with your doctor about screening for heart disease risk. Your doctor may recommend:

Living with a health condition like diabetes can sometimes feel overwhelming. Fortunately, you can often take steps to reduce your risk for other conditions.

Researchers are working to uncover the link between heart valve disease and diabetes. Damage to the heart valves can affect blood flow to the heart, a progression that can happen more quickly in people with diabetes.

If you live with diabetes, your doctor can help you create a plan for heart disease monitoring, balanced eating, and exercise that can help reduce your risk.

Read the original here:
Heart Valve Disease and Diabetes: What You Need to Know - Healthline

World Liver Day 2022: Diabetes is a silent killer and damages more body functions than is apparent. If you have diabetes, your liver needs utmost care as not paying attention to this crucial organ could lead to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) which in turn may cause liver cirrhosis or scarring of the liver. Eating a well-balanced diet with lots of fresh fruits and vegetables at regular intervals and staying active could play a key role in protecting your liver. (Also read: Nutrition tips for diabetes: How to create a healthy plate)

Diabetes is the second cause of liver failure and transplantation in India. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that impacts the way ones body metabolizes sugar. It happens when the body becomes resistant to insulin. This can invite complications along with liver disease. Hence, one will not be able to do his/her daily activities with ease.

"Diabetes and obesity will not only lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) wherein excess fat builds up in the liver but also, a more severe form of NAFLD is known as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Here, the liver fat triggers inflammation that creates scar tissue causing cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease over a period of time. Hence, one will need a liver transplant," says Dr. Roy Patankar, Gastroenterologist and Director of Zen Multispecialty Hospital, Chembur, Mumbai.

There are no symptoms of liver disease until it's too late hence making it hard to diagnose and treat the ailment early. This is the reason why majority of people with diabetes are unware of liver disease despite inflammation and even scarring. Liver cancer and liver failure are rampant in those having diabetes making it all the more important to monitor this disease.

Having liver disease can also trigger diabetes and go on to worsen the liver functioning.

"Your risk of having metabolic syndrome X - including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, insulin resistance, obesity, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol or triglyceride levels - is higher if you've ever had non-alcoholic fatty liver disease," says Dr Patankar.

How to take care of your liver when you have diabetes

* Manage your blood sugar levels by eating nutritious food and avoiding junk, processed sugary and canned food.

* Limit the intake of colas, sodas, fruit juices, sweets, bakery items, and candies.

* Eat at regular intervals in the quantity recommended by the expert.

* Whole grains, fresh fruits, and vegetables should be a part of your daily diet, exercise every day for about half an hour.

* You can do activities such as swimming, cycling, yoga, gymming, aerobics, running or jogging.

* Cut down on sodium and caffeine to keep high blood pressure in check. Say NO to smoking and alcohol. Get yourself screened as suggested by the doctor to catch the liver disease.

More here:
World Liver Day 2022: How to protect your liver when you have diabetes - Hindustan Times

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High concentrations of PFAS, a group of so-called forever chemicals, are associated with increased risk to diabetes in women in midlife, according to new research

The risk is similar to the risks cigarette smoking and being overweight pose, the study shows.

PFAS are ubiquitous in our environmentin our rivers, in our clothes, and seeping through the cooking utensils in our kitchens.

The findings suggest that lowering exposure to these chemicals could be a useful tool in combating diabetes, one of the leading causes of death in the United States, researchers say.

It is important for clinicians to be aware of PFAS as an unrecognized risk factor for diabetes and to be prepared to counsel patients in terms of sources of exposure and potential health effects, says lead author Sung Kyun Park, professor of epidemiology and environmental health sciences at the University of Michigans School of Public Health.

For the study in Diabetologia, Park and colleagues used a subset of participants from the Study of Womens Health Across the Nation, a longitudinal, multisite, multiethnic cohort study of midlife women. At baseline, the subset included nearly 1,300 women ages 45-56 from five sites including Boston; Pittsburgh; southeast Michigan; Los Angeles; and Oakland, California.

Using serum samples collected in 1999-2000, the researchers looked at the concentration of 11 different types of PFAS in the women. Over 16 years, about 100 women developed diabetes. They found that women with diabetes had higher serum concentrations of five types of PFAS than those without diabetes.

The researchers say they hope the findings inspire other scientists to confirm and expand on the results. If confirmed, public health measures to lower PFAS in drinking water and consumer products could help limit the number of new diabetes cases.

Each year, about 1.5 million people are diagnosed with diabetes. If PFAS were reduced, about 370,000 of these cases could be avoided, Park says.

If we were to do that, we could have a huge impact. Changing PFAS policy and making them stricter so the exposure level can go down to that relatively safe level, that would be huge, he says.

PFAS are a public health concern because they are very persistent in the environment and in the human body, which is why they are known as the forever chemical.

But PFAS are also the everywhere chemicals. These compounds are widely used in industrial and consumer applications. If youre going about your everyday life, theres no way to avoid them. Depending on where you live, your water might be contaminated, or you live near a manufacturing plant or a military base, youre more likely to be exposed to these chemicals and avoiding them might be difficult without a larger strategy set up by organizations like the EPA and FDA.

Source: University of Michigan

Read more from the original source:
'Forever chemicals' linked to higher diabetes risk for women - Futurity: Research News